Wet wipes (I)

ABSTRACT

A cleansing article having a substrate capable of absorbing and retaining a fluid therein, the substrate being impregnated with a cleaning composition containing a hydroxy mixed ether.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention is in the field of cleaners for hard surfaces andrelates to wet wipes which are impregnated with a special species of anonionic surfactant.

PRIOR ART

[0002] For the cleaning of hard surfaces, liquids of greater or lesserviscosity are usually used, which are applied directly, run off from thesurface to be cleaned and in so doing carry along the majority of thesoiling. Another application form which is enjoying increased importanceare wet wipes, which are textile fabrics or else tissue papers which areimpregnated with a cleaning liquid. Thus, for example, internationalpatent application WO 95/35411 (Procter & Gamble) proposes wet wipesalbeit predominantly for cosmetic applications, which comprise, inaddition to mineral oil, fatty acid esters, fatty alcohol ethoxylatesand fatty alcohols.

[0003] The disadvantage of the use of these wet wipes is that thesurfactants used leave behind a residue in the form of smearing, whichmakes the treated surface less shiny or even makes it appear soiled. Afurther problem arises in the production of the wet wipes. In order toimpregnate the fabric or tissue paper with the cleaning solution, it iseither sprayed therewith or immersed therein where, in both cases, it ispossible for the output in production to be reduced as a result of foamformation or insufficient wetting. A first object of the presentinvention was therefore to provide wet wipes using special surfactantswhich are free from the problems described above.

[0004] For logistical reasons, the use of concentrates for thepreparation of impregnation solutions for the wet wipes is advantageous.It is disadvantageous that the concentrates often show a tendency towardfoam formation upon dilution. Furthermore, gel phases may form, whichleads to increased time expenditure in the preparation of theimpregnation solutions. In both cases, the production output is reduced.A further object of the invention was therefore to provide surfactantswith which concentrates can be prepared which, by virtue of theirviscosity, storage stability, lack of foam upon dilution and rapiddilutability, permits a technically simple and therefore cost-effectiveproduction of the wet wipes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention provides wet wipes which are characterized in thatthey are impregnated with hydroxy mixed ethers.

[0006] Surprisingly, it has been found that nonionic surfactants of thehydroxy mixed ether type, preferably in combination with alkyloligoglucosides, satisfy the complex object in an excellent manner.Impregnating agents based on hydroxy mixed ethers have proven in theapplication to be low-viscosity and virtually foam-free, and inapplication the wet wipes impregnated therewith do not leave behind anystreaks and do not impair the shine. Concentrates based on hydroxy mixedethers are low-viscosity and, upon dilution to the applicationconcentration, particularly low-foaming.

[0007] Hydroxy Mixed Ethers

[0008] Hydroxy mixed ethers (HME) are known nonionic surfactants withasymmetrical ether structure and polyalkylene glycol moieties which areobtained, for example, by subjecting olefin epoxides with fatty alcoholpolyglycol ethers to a ring-opening reaction. Corresponding products andthe use thereof in the field of hard surface cleaning are, for example,the subject-matter of European patent specification EP 0693049 B1, andof international patent application WO 94/22800 (Olin), and of thespecifications cited therein. Typically, the hydroxy mixed ethersconform to the general formula (I),

[0009] in which R¹ is a linear or branched alkyl radical having 2 to 18,preferably 10 to 16, carbon atoms, R² is hydrogen or a linear orbranched alkyl radical having 2 to 18 carbon atoms, R³ is hydrogen ormethyl, R⁴ is a linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl radical having 1to 22, preferably 8 to 18, carbon atoms and n is a number from 1 to 50,preferably 2 to 25 and in particular 5 to 15, with the proviso that thesum of the carbon atoms in the radicals R¹ and R² is at least 4,preferably 6 to 18 and in particular 8 to 12. As is clear from theformula, the HME may be ring-opening products both of internal olefins(R² does not equal hydrogen) or terminal olefins (R² equals hydrogen),the latter being preferred with regard to the easier preparation and themore advantageous performance properties. Likewise, the polar moiety ofthe molecule may be a polyethylene glycol or a polypropylene glycolchain; also suitable are mixed chains of PE and PP units, be it inrandom distribution or block distribution. Typical examples arering-opening products of 1,2-hexene epoxide, 2,3-hexene epoxide,1,2-octene epoxide, 2,3-octene epoxide, 3,4-octene epoxide, 1,2-deceneepoxide, 2,3-decene epoxide, 3,4-decene epoxide, 4,5-decene epoxide,1,2-dodecene epoxide, 2,3-dodecene epoxide, 3,4-dodecene epoxide,4,5-dodecene epoxide, 5,6-dodecene epoxide, 1,2-tetradecene epoxide,2,3-tetradecene epoxide, 3,4-tetradecene epoxide, 4,5-tetradeceneepoxide, 5,6-tetradecene epoxide, 6,7-tetradecene epoxide,1,2-hexadecene epoxide, 2,3-hexadecene epoxide, 3,4-hexadecene epoxide,4,5-hexadecene epoxide, 5,6-hexadecene epoxide, 6,7-hexadecene epoxide,7,8-hexadecene epoxide, 1,2-octadecene epoxide, 2,3-octadecene epoxide,3,4-octadecene epoxide, 4,5-octadecene epoxide, 5,6-octadecene epoxide,6,7-octadecene epoxide, 7,8-octadecene epoxide and 8,9-octadeceneepoxide, and mixtures thereof with addition products of, on average, 1to 50, preferably 2 to 25 and in particular 5 to 15, mol of ethyleneoxide and/or 1 to 10, preferably 2 to 8 and in particular 3 to 5, mol ofpropylene oxide onto saturated and/or unsaturated primary alcoholshaving 6 to 22, preferably 12 to 18, carbon atoms, such as, for example,caproic alcohol, caprylic alcohol, 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, capric alcohol,lauryl alcohol, isotridecyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol,palmoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol,elaidyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, linolyl alcohol, linolenylalcohol, eleostearyl alcohol, arachyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, behenylalcohol, erucyl alcohol and brassidyl alcohol, and technical-grademixtures thereof. The amount of hydroxy mixed ethers used can, based onthe wet wipes, be 0.05 to 2% by weight and preferably 0.1 to 0.5% byweight and, based on the concentrates, 10 to 50% by weight, preferably15 to 25% by weight.

[0010] Cosurfactants

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hydroxymixed ethers are used together with further anionic, nonionic, cationicand/or amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants.

[0012] Typical examples of anionic surfactants are soaps,alkylbenzenesulfonates, alkanesulfonates, olefin-sulfonates, alkyl ethersulfonates, glycerol ether sulfonates, α-methyl ester sulfonates, sulfofatty acids, alkyl sulfates, fatty alcohol ether sulfates, glycerolether sulfates, hydroxy mixed ether sulfates, monoglyceride (ether)sulfates, fatty acid amide (ether) sulfates, mono- and dialkylsulfosuccinates, mono- and dialkyl sulfosuccinamates,sulfotriglycerides, amide soaps, ether carboxylic acids and saltsthereof, fatty acid isethionates, fatty acid sarcosinates, fatty acidtaurides, N-acylamino acids, such as, for example, acyl lactylates, acyltartrates, acyl glutamates and acyl aspartates, alkyl oligoglucosidesulfates, protein fatty acid condensates (in particular wheat-basedvegetable products) and alkyl (ether) phosphates. If the anionicsurfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, these may have aconventional homolog distribution, but preferably have a narrowedhomolog distribution.

[0013] Typical examples of nonionic surfactants are fatty alcoholpolyglycol ethers, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, fatty acid polyglycolesters, fatty acid amide polyglycol ethers, fatty amine polyglycolethers, alkoxylated triglycerides, mixed ethers or mixed formals,unoxidized or partially oxidized alk(en)yl oligoglycosides or glucuronicacid derivatives, fatty acid N-alkylglucamides, protein hydrolysates (inparticular wheat-based vegetable products), polyol fatty acid esters,sugar esters, sorbitan esters, polysorbates and amine oxides. If thenonionic surfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, these may have aconventional homolog distribution, but preferably have a narrowedhomolog distribution.

[0014] Typical examples of cationic surfactants are quaternary ammoniumcompounds such as, for example, dimethyl distearyl ammonium chloride,and ester quats, in particular quaternized fatty acid trialkanolamineester salts. Typical examples of amphoteric or zwittionic surfactantsare alkylbetaines, alkylamidobetaines, aminopropionates,aminoglycinates, imidazoliniumbetaines and sulfobetaines. Saidsurfactants are exclusively known compounds. With regard to structureand preparation of these substances, reference may be made to relevantreview works, for example J. Falbe (ed.), “Surfactants in ConsumerProducts”, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1987, pp. 54-124 or J. Falbe (ed.),“Katalysatoren, Tenside und Mineralöladditive”, Thieme Verlag,Stuttgart, 1978, pp. 123-217.

[0015] Typical examples of particularly suitable surfactants are fattyalcohol polyglycol ether sulfates, monoglyceride sulfates, mono- and/ordialkyl sulfosuccinates, fatty acid isethionates, fatty acidsarcosinates, fatty acid taurides, fatty acid glutamates,α-olefinsulfonates, ether carboxylic acids, fatty acid glucamides,alkylamidobetaines, amphoacetals and/or protein fatty acid condensates,the latter preferably based on wheat proteins.

[0016] Alkyl and/or Alkenyl Oligoglycosides

[0017] Performance investigations demonstrate that mixtures of hydroxymixed ethers and alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides are particularlyadvantageous. The latter are known nonionic surfactants which conform tothe formula (II),

R⁵O-[G]_(p)  (II)

[0018] in which R⁵ is an alkyl and/or alkenyl radical having 4 to 22carbon atoms, G is a sugar radical having 5 or 6 carbon atoms and p is anumber from 1 to 10. They can be obtained by the relevant processes ofpreparative organic chemistry. By way of representation for theextensive literature, reference may be made here to the specificationsEP-A1 0301298 and WO 90/03977.

[0019] The alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides can be derived fromaldoses or ketoses having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably from glucose.The preferred alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides are thus alkyl and/oralkenyl oligoglucosides. The index number p in the general formula (II)gives the degree of oligomerization (DP), i.e. the distribution of mono-and oligoglycosides, and is a number between 1 and 10. While p in agiven compound must always be an integer and can here primarily assumethe values p=1 to 6, the value p for a certain alkyl oligoglycoside isan analytically determined calculated parameter which in most cases is afraction. Preference is given to using alkyl and/or alkenyloligoglycosides with an average degree of oligomerization p of from 1.1to 3.0. From a performance viewpoint, preference is given to those alkyland/or alkenyl oligoglycosides whose degree of oligomerization is lessthan 1.7 and is in particular between 1.2 and 1.4.

[0020] The alkyl or alkenyl radical R⁵ can be derived from primaryalcohols having 4 to 11, preferably 8 to 10, carbon atoms. Typicalexamples are butanol, caproic alcohol, caprylic alcohol, capric alcoholand undecyl alcohol, and technical-grade mixtures thereof, as areobtained, for example, in the hydrogenation of technical-grade fattyacid methyl esters or in the course of the hydrogenation of aldehydesfrom the Roelen oxo synthesis. Preference is given to alkyloligoglucosides of chain length C₈-C₁₀ (DP=1 to 3) which are produced asfor runnings during the distillative separation of technical-gradeC₈-C₁₈-coconut fatty alcohol and may be contaminated with a content ofless than 6% by weight of C₁₂-alcohol, and also alkyl oligoglucosidesbased on technical-grade C_(9/11)-oxo alcohols (DP=1 to 3). The alkyl oralkenyl radical R⁵ can also be derived from primary alcohols having 12to 22, preferably 12 to 14, carbon atoms. Typical examples are laurylalcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmoleyl alcohol, stearylalcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, elaidyl alcohol,petroselinyl alcohol, arachyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, behenylalcohol, erucyl alcohol, brassidyl alcohol, and technical-grade mixturesthereof, which can be obtained as described above. Preference is givento alkyl oligoglucosides based on hydrogenated C_(12/14)-coconut alcoholwith a DP of from 1 to 3. The alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides can,based on the wet wipes, be used in amounts of 0.05 to 2% by weight andpreferably 0.5 to 1% by weight and, based on the concentrates, inamounts of from 10 to 50% by weight, preferably 25 to 25% by weight,where the weight ratio of HME to glycoside may be in the range from10:90 to 90:10, preferably 25:75 to 75:25 and in particular 40:60 to60:40.

[0021] Tissue Papers and Tissue Fabrics for Moistened Papers

[0022] Tissue papers to which the present invention refers can besingle-ply or multi-ply. The papers generally have a weight per squaremeter of from 10 to 65 g, preferably 15 to 30 g, and a density of 0.6g/cm³ and below. Examples of tissue papers to which the invention mayextend are, in addition to household wipes, naturally also toiletpapers, pocket tissues, face-cleansing wipes, make-up removal wipes,refreshing wipes and the like. In addition to the paper-based tissues,corresponding tissue fabrics which are prepared from fiber or fleecematerial are also suitable.

[0023] Industrial Applicability

[0024] Finally, the invention provides for the use of hydroxy mixedethers as impregnating agents for the production of wet wipes, in whichthey can be used in amounts of from 0.01 to 2% by weight, preferably 0.5to 1% by weight, based on the wipes.

[0025] Auxiliaries and Additives

[0026] In a further embodiment of the invention, the wet wipes cancomprise further customary auxiliaries and additives, in particularcomplexing agents, such as, for example, citric acid, HEDP or EDTA,which serve both for the stabilization of the ingredients and also forimproving the cleaning performance in the case of salt-containingsoilings (e.g. water hardness), antibacterial active ingredients suchas, for example, hydrogen peroxide and cationic surfactants, preferablyester quats, and skin care agents. Suitable skin care agents areprimarily refatting agents, oil components and emulsifiers, as aretypically used in cosmetic products.

[0027] Oily Bodies

[0028] [lacuna] oily bodies are, for example, Guerbet alcohols based onfatty alcohols having 6 to 18, preferably 8 to 10, carbon atoms, estersof linear C₆-C₂₂-fatty acids with linear or branched C₆-C₂₂-fattyalcohols or esters of branched C₆-C₁₃-carboxylic acids with linear orbranched C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohols, such as, for example, myristylmyristate, myristyl palmitate, myristyl stearate, myristyl isostearate,myristyl oleate, myristyl behenate, myristyl erucate, cetyl myristate,cetyl palmitate, cetyl stearate, cetyl isostearate, cetyl oleate, cetylbehenate, cetyl erucate, stearyl myristate, stearyl palmitate, stearylstearate, stearyl isostearate, stearyl oleate, stearyl behenate, stearylerucate, isostearyl myristate, isostearyl palmitate, isostearylstearate, isostearyl isostearate, isostearyl oleate, isostearylbehenate, isostearyl oleate, oleyl myristate, oleyl palmitate, oleylstearate, oleyl isostearate, oleyl oleate, oleyl behenate, oleylerucate, behenyl myristate, behenyl palmitate, behenyl stearate, behenylisostearate, behenyl oleate, behenyl behenate, behenyl erucate, erucylmyristate, erucyl palmitate, erucyl stearate, erucyl isostearate, erucyloleate, erucyl behenate and erucyl erucate. Also suitable are esters oflinear C₆-C₂₂-fatty acids with branched alcohols, in particular2-ethylhexanol, esters of C₁₈-C₃₈-alkylhydroxycarboxylic acids withlinear or branched C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohols (cf. DE 19756377 A1), inparticular dioctyl malate, esters of linear and/or branched fatty acidswith polyhydric alcohols (such as, for example, propylene glycol,dimerdiol or trimertriol) and/or Guerbet alcohols, triglycerides basedon C₆-C₁₀-fatty acids, liquid mono-/di-/triglyceride mixtures based onC₆-C₁₈-fatty acids, esters of C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohols and/or Guerbetalcohols with aromatic carboxylic acids, in particular benzoic acid,esters of C₂-C₁₂-dicarboxylic acids with linear or branched alcoholshaving 1 to 22 carbon atoms or polyols having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 2to 6 hydroxyl groups, vegetable oils, branched primary alcohols,substituted cyclohexanes, linear and branched C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcoholcarbonates such as, for example, dicaprylyl carbonate (Cetiol® CC),Guerbet carbonates based on fatty alcohols having 6 to 18, preferably 8to 10, carbon atoms, esters of benzoic acid with linear and/or branchedC₆-C₂₂-alcohols (e.g. Finsolv® TN), linear or branched, symmetrical orasymmetrical dialkyl ethers having 6 to 22 carbon atoms per alkyl group,such as, for example, dicaprylyl ether (Cetiol® OE), ring-openingproducts of epoxidized fatty acid esters with polyols, silicone oils(cyclomethicones, silicon methicone grades, etc.) and/or aliphatic ornaphthenic hydrocarbons such as, for example, squalane, squalene ordialkylcyclohexanes.

[0029] Emulsifiers

[0030] Suitable emulsifiers are, for example, nonionogenic surfactantsfrom at least one of the following groups:

[0031] addition products of from 2 to 30 mol of ethylene oxide and/or 0to 5 mol of propylene oxide onto linear fatty alcohols having 8 to 22carbon atoms, onto fatty acids having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, onto alkylphenols having 8 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, and alkylamineshaving 8 to 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical;

[0032] addition products of from 1 to 15 mol of ethylene oxide ontocastor oil and/or hydrogenated castor oil;

[0033] addition products of from 15 to 60 mol of ethylene oxide ontocastor oil and/or hydrogenated castor oil;

[0034] partial esters of glycerol and/or sorbitan with unsaturated,linear or saturated, branched fatty acids having 12 to 22 carbon atomsand/or hydoxycarboxylic acids having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, and adductsthereof with 1 to 30 mol of ethylene oxide;

[0035] partial esters of polyglycerol (average degree ofself-condensation 2 to 8), polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 400 to5000), trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, sugar alcohols (e.g.sorbitol), alkyl glucosides (e.g. methyl glucoside, butyl glucoside,lauryl glucoside), and polyglucosides (e.g. cellulose) with saturatedand/or unsaturated, linear or branched fatty acids having 12 to 22carbon atoms and/or hydroxycarboxylic acids having 3 to 18 carbon atoms,and adducts thereof with 1 to 30 mol of ethylene oxide;

[0036] mixed esters of pentaerythritol, fatty acids, citric acid andfatty alcohol as in German Patent 1165574 and/or mixed esters of fattyacids having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, methyl glucose and polyols,preferably glycerol or polyglycerol.

[0037] mono-, di- and trialkyl phosphates, and also mono-, di- and/ortri-PEG alkyl phosphates and salts thereof;

[0038] wool wax alcohols;

[0039] polysiloxane-polyalkyl-polyether copolymers and correspondingderivatives;

[0040] block copolymers, e.g. polyethylene glycol-30dipolyhydroxystearate;

[0041] polymer emulsifiers, e.g. Pemulen grades (TR-1, TR-2) fromGoodrich;

[0042] polyalkylene glycols and

[0043] glycerol carbonate.

[0044] The addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxideonto fatty alcohols, fatty acids, alkyl phenols or onto castor oil areknown, commercially available products. These are homolog mixtures whoseaverage degree of alkoxylation corresponds to the ratio of thequantitative amounts of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide andsubstrate with which the addition reaction is carried out.C_(12/18)-fatty acid mono- and diesters of addition products of ethyleneoxide onto glycerol are known from German Patent DE 2024051 as refattingagents for cosmetic preparations.

[0045] Typical examples of suitable partial glycerides arehydroxystearic acid monoglyceride, hydroxystearic acid diglyceride,isostearic acid monoglyceride, isostearic acid diglyceride, oleic acidmonoglyceride, oleic acid diglyceride, ricinoleic acid monoglyceride,ricinoleic acid diglyceride, linoleic acid monoglyceride, linoleic aciddiglyceride, linolenic acid monoglyceride, linolenic acid diglyceride,erucic acid monoglyceride, erucic acid diglyceride, tartaric acidmonoglyceride, tartaric acid diglyceride, citric acid monoglyceride,citric [lacuna] diglyceride, malic acid monoglyceride, malic aciddiglyceride and technical-grade mixtures thereof which may also containsmall amounts of triglyceride as byproducts from the preparationprocess. Likewise suitable are addition products of from 1 to 30 mol,preferably 5 to 10 mol, of ethylene oxide onto said partial glycerides.[lacuna] sorbitan esters are sorbitan monoisostearate, sorbitansesquiisostearate, sorbitan diisostearate, sorbitan triisostearate,sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan dioleate, sorbitantrioleate, sorbitan monoerucate, sorbitan sesquierucate, sorbitandierucate, sorbitan trierucate, sorbitan monoricinoleate, sorbitansesquiricinoleate, sorbitan diricinoleate, sorbitan triricinoleate,sorbitan monohydroxystearate, sorbitan sesquihydroxystearate, sorbitandihydroxystearate, sorbitantrihydroxystearate, sorbitan monotartrate,sorbitan sesquitartrate, sorbitan ditartrate, sorbitantritartrate,sorbitan monocitrate, sorbitan sesquicitrate, sorbitan dicitrate,sorbitan tricitrate, sorbitan monomaleate, sorbitan sesquimaleate,sorbitan dimaleate, sorbitan trimaleate and technical-grade mixturesthereof. Also suitable are addition products of from 1 to 30 mol,preferably 5 to 10 mol, of ethylene oxide onto said sorbitan esters.

[0046] Typical examples of suitable polyglyceryl esters arepolyglyceryl-2 dipolyhydroxystearate (Dehymuls® PGPH), polyglycerol-3diisostearate (Lameform® TGI), polyglyceryl-4 isostearate (Isolan® GI34), polyglyceryl-3 oleate, diisostearoyl polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate(Isolan® PDI), polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate (Tego Care® 450),polyglyceryl-3 beeswax (Cera Bellina®) , polyglyceryl-4 caprate(polyglycerol caprate T2010/90), polyglyceryl-3 cetyl ether (Chimexane®NL), polyglyceryl-3 distearate (Cremophor® GS 32) and polyglycerylpolyricinoleate (Admul® WOL 1403) polyglyceryl dimerate isosteararate,and mixtures thereof. Examples of further suitable polyol esters are themono-, di- and triesters of trimethylolpropane or pentaerythritol withlauric acid, coconut fatty acid, tallow fatty acid, palmitic acid,stearic acid, oleic acid, behenic acid and the like, which areoptionally reacted with 1 to 30 mol of ethylene oxide.

[0047] Zwitterionic surfactants can also be used as emulsifiers.Zwittionic surfactants is the term used to describe those surface-activecompounds which contain at least one quaternary ammonium group and atleast one carboxylate and one sulfonate group in the molecule.Particularly suitable zwitterionic surfactants are the so-calledbetaines, such as the N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylammonium glycinates, forexample cocoalkyldimethylammonium glycinate,N-acylaminopropyl-N,N-dimethylammonium glycinates, for examplecocoacylaminopropyldimethylammonium glycinate, and2-alkyl-3-carboxymethyl-3-hydroxyethylimidazoline having in each case 8to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl or acyl group, and cocoacylaminoethylhydroxyethylcarboxy-methylglycinate. Particular preference is given tothe fatty acid amide derivative known under the CTFA name CocamidopropylBetaine. Likewise suitable emulsifiers are ampholytic surfactants.Ampholytic surfactants are to be understood as meaning thosesurface-active compounds which, apart from a C_(8/18)-alkyl- or -acylgroup, contain at least one free amino group and at least one —COOH or—SO₃H group in the molecule and are capable of forming internal salts.Examples of suitable ampholytic surfactants are N-alkylglycines,N-alkylpropionic acids, N-alkylaminobutyric acids,N-alkylaminodipropionic acids,N-hydroxyethyl-N-alkylamidopropylglycines, N-alkyltaurines,N-alkylsarcosines, 2-alkylaminopropionic acids and alkylaminoaceticacids having in each case about 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group.Particularly preferred ampholytic surfactants areN-cocoalkylaminopropionate, cocoacyl-aminoethylaminopropionate andC_(12/18)-acylsarcosine. Finally, suitable emulsifiers are also cationicsurfactants which are particularly preferably those of the ester quattype, preferably methyl-quaternized difatty acid triethanolamine estersalts.

[0048] These preparations are preferably emulsions, preferablymicroemulsions or PIT emulsions.

EXAMPLES Examples 1 to 4, Comparative Example C1

[0049] Various impregnation solutions were prepared by simply mixing thecomponents; the foaming ability of the mixtures was then determinedunder dynamic conditions in accordance with the free-falling circulatorymethod (1% by weight of washing-active substance, 25° C., delivery rate1 l/min). To test the cleaning performance and the shine retention, thepreparations were applied to an absorbent carrier (absorbent tissuepaper, three-ply, weight 18 g/m², 95% by weight of recycled papercontent). To determine the cleaning ability on hard and elasticsurfaces, a white soil carrier treated with test soiling was wiped withthe impregnated wipes under defined conditions. The cleaning effect wasmeasured photoelectrically against the untreated soil carrier(standard=100%). To check shine retention, a high-shine black tile wascleaned with the impregnated wipes and the difference was determinedusing a shineimeter (untreated standard=100%). The composition of themixtures and the performance results are summarized in Table 1. Examples1 to 4 are in accordance with the invention, Example C1 serves as acomparison. TABLE 1 Composition of the impregnation solutions andperformance results Quantitative data as % by weight, water ad 100% 1 23 4 Cl Composition Carrier 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 HME-I¹⁾ 1.0 0.2 0.2— — HME-II²⁾ 13 — — 0.2 — C₈-C₁₀-alkyl oligoglucoside — 0.8 — 0.8 —C₈-C₁₆-alkyl oligoglucoside — — 0.8 — — Isodecanol + 8EO — — — — 1.0Citric acid 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Isopropyl alcohol 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0Hydrogen peroxide 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 Performance properties Foamingability [ml] 200 250 230 300 900 Cleaning power [% rel.] 45 40 50 52 35Shine retention [% rel.] 75 95 85 90 70

Examples 5 and 6, Comparative Example C2

[0050] Various impregnation concentrates were prepared and theirviscosity (Höppler, 20° C.) and their tendency toward foam formation andtheir external appearance were investigated. The results are summarizedin Table 2. Examples 5 and 6 are in accordance with the invention,Example C2 serves as a comparison. TABLE 2 Composition of theimpregnation solution concentrates and performance results Quantitativedata as % by weight, water ad 100% 5 6 C2 Composition HME-I 10.0 10.0 —C₈-C₁₀-alkyl 40.0 — — oligoglucoside C₈-C₁₆-alkyl — 40.0 —oligoglucoside Isodecanol + 8 EO — — 50.0 Bronidox (3) 0.03 0.03 0.03Citric acid 0.1 0.1 0.1 Performance properties Viscosity [mPas] 200200 >3000 Appearance clear, clear, cloudy homogeneous homogeneousTendency toward low low high foam formation

1. A wet wipe characterized in that it is impregnated with hydroxy mixedethers.
 2. The wet wipe as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that itcomprises hydroxy mixed ethers of the formula (I),

in which R¹ is a linear or branched alkyl radical having 2 to 18 carbonatoms, R² is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl radical having 2 to18 carbon atoms, R³ is hydrogen or methyl, R⁴ is a linear or branched,alkyl and/or alkenyl radical having 1 to 22 carbon atoms and n is anumber from 1 to 50, with the proviso that the sum of the carbon atomsin the radicals R¹ and R² is at least
 4. 3. The wet wipe as claimed inclaims 1 and/or 2, characterized in that it comprises the hydroxy mixedethers in amounts of 0.05 to 2% by weight, based on the wet wipe.
 4. Thewet wipe as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized inthat it comprises further anionic, nonionic, cationic and/or amphotericor zwitterionic surfactants.
 5. The wet wipe as claimed in claim 4,characterized in that it further comprises alkyl and/or alkenyloligoglycosides.
 6. The wet wipe as claimed in claims 4 and/or 5,characterized in that it comprises alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosidesof the formula (II), R⁵O-[G]_(p)  (II) in which R⁵ is an alkyl and/oralkenyl radical having 4 to 22 carbon atoms, G is a sugar radical having5 or 6 carbon atoms and p is a number from 1 to
 10. 7. The wet wipe asclaimed in at least one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that itcomprises the alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides in amounts of from0.05 to 2% by weight, based on the wet wipe.
 8. The wet wipe as claimedin at least one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that it comprises thehydroxy mixed ethers and the alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides in theweight ratio 10:90 to 90:10.
 9. The wet wipe as claimed in at least oneof claims 4 to 8, characterized in that it comprises further customaryauxiliaries and additives.
 10. The use of hydroxy mixed ethers asimpregnating agents for the production of wet wipes.